Physiological significance of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine biosynthesis in plants

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25440139
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Plant molecular biology/Plant physiology
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Sato Yasushi 愛媛大学, 理工学研究科, 准教授 (80274306)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SUGIYAMA Munetaka 東京大学, 大学院理学(系)研究科, 准教授 (50202130)
• Research Collaborator: NOZAKI Mamoru ; FURO Keisuke ; NAKATSUMA Naoto ; MURASHIGE Hiroshi ; KOMATSU Junpei ; TANAKA Masaki
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: シロイヌナズナ / lig変異体 / UDP-N-アセチルグルコサミン / 小胞体ストレス応答(UPR) / リグニン化 / GlcNAcキナーゼ / タンパク質糖鎖修飾 / 温度感受性変異体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) is essential for N-glycosylation of proteins in eukaryotes. In this study, we progressed the investigation of significance of synthesis, salvage pathway and effects of deficiency of UDP-GlcNAc in plants. For the purpose, we used various Arabidopsis mutants and transformants such as lig, in which de novo synthesis of UDP-GlcNAc was inhibited.
As a result, we novelly revealed a GlcNAc kinase in plants, which is essential for salvage synthesis of UDP-GlcNAc from GlcNAc derived from degradation of glycoproteins. Furthermore, we obtained a new knowledge about relationship between cell-wall damage, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) during the process from UDP-GlcNAc deficiency to growth suppression and ectopic lignification in roots.

Free Research Field

植物生理学